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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


GIFT    OF 


Class 


Historical 


....THE.... 

CENTRAL  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 
OF  PHILADELPHIA 


...BY... 

JOHN  EDMANDS 


Historical  Sketch 

OF 

The  Central  Congregational    Church 
of    Philadelphia 


Prepared  by  John  Edmands,  and  read 

on  the  Thirtieth  Anniversary  of 

the  Church,  flay  21,  1894. 

TpHIKTY  years  have  passed  away ;  the 
record  of  the  results,  the  successes 
and  the  mistakes  of  these  years  has  been 
made  up,  and  no  word  that  has  been 
written  in  that  book  can  be  changed  or 
erased. 

We  come  together  on  this  occasion  to 
turn  over  the  leaves  of  this  book,  in 
order  that  we  may  learn  how  to  avoid 
the  errors,  and  the  failings  of  the  past, 
and  gain  a  better  understanding  of  the 
work  we  have  to  do,  and  the  methods 
best  suited  for  accomplishing  it.  We 
came  here  as  a  church  not  to  introduce 
divisions  in  the  household  of  faith,  nor 
because  we  believed  that  the  Congrega- 
tional polity  is  the  exact  pattern  which 
was  shown  us  in  the  mount.  But  we 
believe  that  it  more  correctly  than  any 
other  embodies  the  spirit  of  the  teach- 
ings of  Christ  and  his  apostles  ;  that  it 
more  nearly  represents  the  practice  of 
the  apostolic  church  ;  that  it  is  in  closer 
accord  with  the  best  form  of  civil  govern- 


228098 


.'.  ::.•::':•••••.*:    :  „•.  •'•. 
••*.::••:.••:'..:  '::..:/.•....• 


ment,  and  that  it  is  better  adapted  than 
any  other  to  do  the  work  that  the  church 
on  earth  is  set  to  do.  In  the  early 
period  of  this  city's  history,  when  as  yet 
there  was  no  Baptist  nor  Presbyterian 
Church  here,  there  were  numbers  of  Con- 
gregationalists,  and  it  was  natural  and 
every  way  reasonable  that  they  should 
seek  to  organize  their  church  life  in  as 
close  accordance  as  possible  with  the 
faith  and  the  polity  in  which  they  had 
been  trained,  and  to  which  they  were 
intelligently  attached.  But  as  in  the 
•case  of  the  "  Plan  of  Union  "  in  1801,  and 
in  many  other  particular  instances  since, 
views  of  church  polity  were  subordinated 
to  zeal  for  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  they 
were  willing  to  forego  the  use  of  the 
name  if  they  could  have  the  thing.  And 
as  matter  of  reliable  history  we  find  that 
the  church  which  they  organized  here 
did  not  bear  the  Congregational  name. 
It  was  the  first  church  formed  here  and 
was  made  up  mainly  of  Congregational- 
ists  with  some  Presbyterians  and  Bap- 
tists. This  church  which  is  in  vigorous 
life  to-day,  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
of  this  city,  was  in  fact  a  Congregational 
church.  At  first  it  was  called  an  Inde- 
pendent church,  then  a  Presbyterian 
church ;  but  under  both  names  and  for 
many  years  it  was  a  true  Congregational 
church. 

The  history  of  Congregationalism  in 
Philadelphia  has  never  been  written 
with  pen  and  ink  ;  but  it  has  been  written 
in  part,  in  the  lives  of  many  earnest 
Christian  men  and  women,  and  it  also 
has  been  written,  in  part,  in  the  corpor- 
ate religious  life  of  this  city.  This  city 
is  not  now,  and  it  never  will  be,  in  some 


features  of  its  social  and  religious  life, 
what  it  would  have  been  if  there  had 
never  been  a  Congregational  church  here. 
The  ideas  of  church  polity  and  religious 
freedom  entertained  by  those  who  gave 
form  to  the  church  life  of  this  city  did 
not  cease  to  be  potential  because  they 
were  not  fully  and  distinctively  embodied 
in  church  polity ;  but  they  have  been 
effective  in  guiding  and  shaping  the 
form  of  church  life  ever  since.  It  would 
not  be  incongruous  to  the  occasion  which 
brings  us  together  to  take  such  a  look 
as  existing  records  will  enable  us  to  take 
of  the  beginning  of  Congregationalism  in 
this  city.  It  would  be  especially  ap- 
propriate, did  time  allow,  to  review  the 
history  of  the  church  to  which  Dr.  Todd 
ministered  here  in  1836-1841,  and  which 
did  so  noble  a  work  for  Christ.  The 
story  of  that  church  forms  one  of  the 
brightest  pages  in  the  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory of  Philadelphia,  notwithstanding 
the  few  dark  lines  that  are  to  be  seen  in 
the  picture. 

THE  FIRST  MEETING. 

In  the  winter  of  1863-64,  there  was  on 
the  part  of  many  New  Englanders  here 
a  conviction  that  the  time  had  come  for 
another  movement  in  behalf  of  Congre- 
gationalism, and  several  informal  meet- 
ings were  held  with  reference  to  it. 

The  subject  was  carefully  considered, 
in  its  various  bearings  both  with  respect 
to  reasons  for  it,  and  the  obstacles  to  be 
encountered ;  and"  the  conclusion  was 
reached  that  the  time  had  arrived  for 
the  establishment  here  of  a  church  that 
should  be  an  exponent  oi  the  Congrega- 
tional polity ;  and  on  April  2,  1864  the 


following   notice  appeared  in  the  daily 
papers  :— 

"  K"ew-Englanders,  and  all  others  in- 
terested in  the  planting  of  a  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Philadelphia,  are  invited 
to  meet  on  Monday  evening,  April  5, 
at  210  Franklin  Street."  At  this  meet- 
ing there  were  present ;  James  Smith, 
James  F.  Stone,  Rev.  Burdett  Hart,  T. 

B.  C.  Burpee,  G.  B.  Cleveland,  Jno.  Gul- 
liver, W.  B.  Grose,  Jno.  Edmands,  Rev. 
F.    N".    Peloubet,    of  Mass.;    Edward  J. 
Hyde,  H.  B.  Lincoln,  W.  H.  Slocum,  and 

C.  E.    Spangler.      Of    these,    the    first 
eight  became  members   of  the   church. 
Jno.  Gulliver  was  elected  chairman,  after 
Mr.  Smith  had  declined  the  position,  and 
Jno.    Edmands    was   chosen   secretary. 
These  persons  were  continued  in  these 
positions  till  the  church  was  formed.    Mr. 
Hart  invoked  the  divine  blessing  upon 
the   deliberations   of  the   meeting,   and 
then  made  a  statement  of  the  reasons  for 
the  formation  of  a  Congregational  church, 
and  the  encouragement  for  proceeding 
with  the  work.     On  his  motion,  and  after 
a  full  expression  of  opinion,  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  unanimously  adopt- 
ed :— 

"  Resolved,  that,  in  the  judgment  of 
this  meeting,  it  is  expedient  and  imper- 
ative that  a  Congregational  church  be 
planted  in  this  city."  In  pursuance  of 
this  vote,  steps  were  at  once  taken  look- 
ing to  the  formation  of  a  church.  Concert 
Sail,  on  Chestnut  Street  above  12th  was 
secured  for  services  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
clergymen  were  engaged  to  conduct  pub- 
lic worship.  The  first  public  services 
were  held  there  on  Sunday,  May  15, 
1864.  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  of 


Brooklyn,  preaching  morning  and  even- 
ing to  large  congregations. 

Of  those  who  preached  afterwards, 
may  be  mentioned  :  Kev.  A.  L.  Stone, 
D.  D.,  of  Boston  ;  Kev.  Leonard  Bacon, 
D.  D.,  of  New  Haven  ;  Kev.  Jno.  Todd, 
D.  D.,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  Kev.  Geo.  B. 
Cheever,  D.  D.,  of  New  York  ;  Kev.  H. 
M.  Storrs,  D.  D.,  of  Cincinnati ;  Kev. 
Geo.  Sheppard,  D.  D.,  of  Bangor,  Maine; 
Kev.  \V.  I.  Buddington,  D.  D.,  of  Brook- 
lyn. Public  worship  was  maintained  in 
this  hall,  on  the  Sabbath,  until  July, 
1865 ;  and  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year  in  the  hall  at  the  N.  E.  Cor.  of 
Broad  and  Arch  Streets. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

On  May  25  a  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Covenant,  which  had  been  carefully 
considered  at  previous  meetings,  was 
adopted.  On  Monday  evening,  May  30, 
1864,  the  church  was  formally  organized 
in  the  parlors  of  Mr.  James  Smith,  at  210 
Franklin  Street.  Kev.  Newton  Heston, 
being  providentially  present,  was  invited 
to  assist  in  the  formal  organization  of 
the  church. 

After  prayer  and  some  remarks,  ap- 
propriate to  the  occasion,  he  read  the 
"  Confession  of  Faith  and  Cove- 
nant," and  those  who  were  to  constitute 
the  church,  rising,  gave  their  individual 
assent  to  it. 

The  Secretary  of  the  meeting  then  pror 
posed  the  following  minute,  viz  : — 

"We,  whose  names  are  hereto 
subscribed,  do  solemnly  adopt  the 
'Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant ' 
just  read  as  the  expression  of  our 


Christian  faith  and  our  sacred 
pledge  to  each  other,  and  to  our 
Saviour;  and  by  this  act  we  do  con- 
stitute ourselves  a  church  of  Christ, 
under  the  name  of  'The  Central 
Congregational  Church  of  Philadel- 
phia/" 

By  this  simple  but  solemn  act,  and 
without  the  advice  or  aid  of  any  outside 
body,  we  became  a  church  of  Christ,  and 
were  fully  competent  to  the  performance 
of  any  and  all  acts  that  any  church  may 
perform.  As  the  first  act,  after  organiz- 
ing, the  church  elected  Jno.  Edmands, 
Clerk,  and  Rev.  Burdett  Hart,  Moderator 
pro  tern.  Although  in  every  essential  a 
church  of  Christ,  we  were  an  independ- 
ent church  without  recognized  standing, 
or  union  with  any  other  ecclesiastical 
body.  With  the  view  of  bringing  the 
new  church  into  relations  of  fellowship 
with  the  great  body  of  Congregational 
churches,  an  ecclesiastical  council  was 
called,  composed  of  clerical  and  lay 
delegates,  from  prominent  churches  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  This 
council  met  in  the  "  Academy  of  Music," 
on  Wednesday,  June  1,  1864,  and  for- 
mally recognized  the  church.  Those, 
who  participated  in  the  services  were 
Rev.  H.  C.  Eddy,  pastor  of  Tabernacle 
Baptist  church  ;  Rev.  H.  Ward  Beecher, 
of  Brooklyn,  who  preached  the  sermon  ; 
Rev.  J.  P.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  of  New 
York;  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D.,  of 
New  Haven  ;  Rev.  John  Todd,  D.  D.,  of 
Pittsfield,  Mass. ;  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone,  D. 
D.,  of  Boston;  Rev.  John  P.  Gulliver, 
D.  D.,  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  Rev.  W. 
B.  Brown,  D.  D.,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 


CHURCH  RULES. 

On  December  16,  1864  the  church 
took  final  action  in  adopting  a  code  of 
"  Principles  and  Enles  of  the  Church," 
which  had  been  reported  by  a  committee 
and  considered  at  several  meetings.  The 
rules  were  amended  on  January  3, 
1866,  and  again  on  March  9,  1868.  As 
thus  amended  they  were  printed  in  the 
Manual  which  was  issued  in  1868. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  SOCIETY. 

On  November  29,  1864  an  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Society  was  formed  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  financial  and  secular  affairs 
of  the  church,  and  on  December  23  the 
church  voted  its  accordance  with  this 
action,  and  adopted  the  joint  rules  which 
the  society  had  formed.  The  society 
was  incorporated  by  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  of  this  State,  January  24, 
1865,  under  the  name  of  "The  Central 
Congregational  Society  of  Philadelphia." 
This  action  was  taken  in  accordance 
with  what  had  been  the  prevailing  usage 
in  New  England  for  a  long  time;  It  was 
adopted  here  in  the  belief  that  some 
persons,  who  were  not  members  of  the 
church  would  take  a  more  active  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  church,  if  they  were 
allowed  a  voice  in  the  choice  of  a  pastor, 
and  in  the  management  of  financial 
affairs. 

The  application  for  the  charter  was 
signed  by  the  following  persons  who 
were  not  at  the  first  meeting  held  on 
April  5,  1864.  W.  A.  Arnold,  Dr.  David 
Burpee,  N.  F.  Evans,  J.  E.  Gaut,  A.  W. 
Goodell,  N.  L.  Hart,  Kev.  Edward 
Hawes,  F.  J.  Jewett,  E.  H.  Maynard,  F. 
H.  Morgan,  Monroe  Snell,  William  Stef- 


fe,  Dr.  A..  H.  Stevens,  C.  D.  Supplee, 
and  E.  Tracy.  All  of  these  persons  have 
been  members  of  the  church. 

By  a  subsequent  change  in  the  by-laws 
no  one  was  admitted  into  the  society, 
who  was  not  a  communicant  in  the 
church.  During  the  last  year  an  amend- 
ment was  procured  to  the  charter,  by 
virtue  of  which  all  the  powers  and  funct- 
ions of  the  society  were  transferred  to 
the  church,  and  the  society  ceased  to 
exist.  The  church  is  now  an  incorporated 
body  in  lawr ;  holds  the  title  to  the  real 
estate,  and  manages  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  affairs  of  the  organization. 

By  this  change  in  the  charter  the  man- 
agement of  the  financial  and  secular  af- 
fairs of  the  church  is  vested  in  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  consisting  of  nine  members. 
Those  comprising  the  Board  at  present 
are :  E.  E.  Ames,  E.  C.  Grain,  A.  W. 
Goodell,  John  McLellan,  E.  E.  Powell, 
G,  M,  Randle,  C.  D.  Supplee,  H.  J.  Tib- 
bals  and  Joseph  Wilson. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized,  in 
connection  with  the  church ,  on  Sunday, 
October  9,  1864,  at  Concert  Hall.  Eev. 
Burdett  Hart  was  chosen  superintendent 
for  the  time  being.  On  December  2,  Jos. 
R.  Gaut  was  elected  Superintendent  and 
retained  the  office  four  years.  Nelson 
F.  Evans  was  the  Superintendent  from 
1869  to  1879.  This  school,  from  the 
first,  has  been  efficiently  maintained.  A 
large  proportion  of  those  who  have  come 
into  the  church  on  confession  have 
entered  through  the  Sunday  School  door. 
Very  much  of  the  success  which  has  at- 
tended the  school,  especially  in  its  later 


years,  has  been  due  to  the  vigorous  and 
varied  administration  of  Mr.  W.  H. 
Wanamaker,  who  has  had  charge  of  it 
since  1880.  On  January  3,  1866  a  Sun- 
day School  Society  was  formed,  with 
constitution  and  rules. 

FIRST  COMMUNION. 

The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  administered,  for  the  first  time,  on 
Sunday,  October  16, 1864  ;  the  services  on 
that  day  being  conducted  by  Kev.  Andrew 
L.  Stone,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  and  sixteen 
new  members  being  received  into  the 
church.  The  communion  service,  which 
was  used,  on  the  occasion,  was  that 
which  formerly  belonged  to  the  "  First 
Congregational  Church,"  of  which  Rev. 
Dr.  Todd  was  the  pastor.  It  was  kindly 
loaned  to  us  on  this  and  a  subsequent 
occasion  by  the  "  Clinton  Street  Presby- 
terian church,"  to  which  it  passed  when 
the  First  Congregational  church  was 
disbanded. 

COMMUNION  SET. 

In  May,  1865,  the  church  was  kindly 
remembered  by  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  in  the 
gift  of  a  beautiful  Communion  Service. 
It  consisted  of  8  goblets,  4  plates,  2  Fla- 
gons and  a  Baptismal  bowl.  This  serv- 
ice to  which  addition  has  been  made  is 
still  in  use  in  the  church.  The  set  which 
had  been  used  was  given  to  a  new  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Delaware. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

At  the  time  of  its  organization,  the 
church  consisted  of  thirty-seven  mem- 
bers, all  of  whom  joined  on  certificate 


from  other  churches.  Of  these  18  were 
men  and  19  were  women,  and  of  the 
thirty-seven,  the  names  of  six  are  still  on 
the  church  roll ;  although  only  four  are 
among  the  active  members.  Of  the 
original  number  fourteen  are  known  to 
have  died.  Of  those  of  the  original  num- 
ber who  have  removed  from  us,  the  resi- 
dences of  ten  are  known.  There  have 
been  added  to  the  church,  on  confession 
of  faith,  402,  and  on  certificate  from  other 
churches,  including  the  original  thirty- 
seven,  725 ;  making  the  whole  number 
from  the  beginning  1127.  Of  this  num- 
ber, one,  who  was  one  of  the  original 
thirty-seven,  has  been  ex-communicated, 
and  not  restored.  From  fourteen  the 
fellowship  of  the  church  has  been  with- 
drawn :  124  have  died  and  372  have  been 
granted  certificates  to  other  churches. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  617.  Of  those  who  were  received  on 
certificate,  three  came  from  a  Moravian 
church  ;  five  from  Independent  churches; 
eight  from  Baptist  churches ;  ten  from 
Lutheran  churches ;  seventeen  from 
Episcopal  churches ;  twenty-five  from 
Reformed  churches  ;  thirty  from  Metho- 
dist churches  ;  two  hundred  and  seventy 
from  Presbyterian  churches,  and  three 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  from  Congrega- 
tional churches.  Of  those  who  came  to 
us  from  other  than  Congregational 
churches,  the  greater  portion  had  prob- 
ably been  only  temporary  sojourners  in 
an  uncongenial  fold,  but  a  goodly 
number  have  exchanged  the  polity  to 
which  they  were  native  for  the  more  ex- 
cellent wray. 


10 


BUILDING. 

In  April,  1865,  the  ground  on  which 
the  church  stands  was  purchased  and 
preparations  were  at  once  made  for  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  The 
corner-stone  of  the  Chapel  was  laid  with 
appropriate  religious  services,  on  Mon- 
day, June  12, 1865.  Rev.  Daniel  March, 
D.  D.,  then  Pastor  of  the  Clinton  Street 
Presbyterian  Church,  made  an  appropri- 
ate address.  The  chapel  was  completed 
during  the  year,  and  was  dedicated  on 
Sunday,  January  7,  1866. 

Those  who  took  part  in  these  services 
beside  the  Pastor,  were  Rev.  E.  P,  Smith 
of  the  U.  S.  Christian  Commission,  Rev. 
Wm.  Groodell,  D.  D.,  Rev.  George  Dana 
Boardman,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Theophilus 
Stork. 

The  Sunday  School  room  was  not  com- 
pleted until  the  close  of  the  Summer.  It 
was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  Sept.  16, 1866. 
At  this  service  addresses  were  made  by 
the  pastor  Rev.  Edward  Hawes,  by  Rev. 
Frank  Russell,  pastor  of  Plymouth 
Church  in  this  city,  and  by  Mr.  A.  S. 
Hatch  of  Xew  York. 

Our  Sunday  and  week-day  services 
were  held  in  the  lower  room  of  the  Chapel 
until  the  completion  of  the  main  edifice, 
in  1872. 

The  walls  and  roof  of  the  main  build- 
ing were  erected  in  1871,  and  the  edifice 
was  completed  the  next  year  and  dedi- 
cated on  Sunday,  June  2,  1872.  The 
dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Hawes.  During  the 
evenings  of  the  week,  services,  were  con- 
tinued and  addresses  were  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  J.  Wheaton  Smith,  D.  D.,  of 

11 


the  Baptist  church  ;  Eev.  C.  II .  Payne, 
D.  D.,  of  the  Methodist  church  ;  Rev.  E. 
R.  Beadle,  D.  D.,  Rev.  R.  D.  Harper, 
D.  D.,  and  Rev.  F.  L.  Robbins,  D.  D.,  of 
the  Presbyterian  church ;  Father  Ga- 
vazzi,  of  Italy  ;  Rev.  W.  E.  C.  Wright, 
of  this  city  ;  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Taylor,  D.  D., 
and  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Hep  worth,  of  New 
York,  and  Rev.  N".  J.  Burton,  D.  D..  of 
Hartford,  Conn. 

The  building  committee  consisted  of 
the  following  persons,  viz.  :  James  Smith, 
John  Edmands,  B.  F.  Quimby,  Pliny 
Fisk.  Henry  Whelen,  J.  S.  Elwell,  Ed- 
ward Hawes,  Burdett  Hart,  D.  S.  Ewing, 
C.  S.  Knight,  N".  F.  Evans,  F.  R,  Shelton 
and  J.  H.  Horner.  Deacon  Smith  was 
chosen  chairman  of  the  committee,  but 
on  account  of  his  advanced  age  he  asked 
to  be  excused  from  the  labor  involved  in 
the  position.  His  request  was  granted 
and  John  Edmands  was  made  vice-chair- 
man with  the  understanding  that  he 
should  discharge  the  duties  of  chairman. 

As  originally  finished,  the  walls  and 
ceiling  of  the  auditorium  were  severely 
plain,  and  in  its  accoustic  properties  the 
room  was  defective.  With  the  view  of 
removing  these  imperfections,  the  room 
was  remodeled,  and  re-decorated  in  the 
summer  of  1886,  at  a  cost  of  about  $8000. 
Previous  to  1884  the  organ  loft  was  oc- 
cupied by  a  small  instrument  of  inferior 
quality,  which  very  inadequately  met 
the  requirements  of  our  musical  services. 
In  that  year  a  large  organ  was  procured 
at  a  cost  of  over  $12,000.  Of  this  amount 
$5,000  was  contributed  by  Mr.  Henry 
Winkley,  who  was  never  in  any  other 
way  identified  with  this  congregation, 

12 


but  who  had  been  a  generous  benefactor 
of  many  religious  institutions. 

The  cost  of  the  church  building,  in- 
cluding the  ground,  the  organ,  and  the 
improvements  made  in  1886,  was  about 
$140,000.  and,  with  the  exception  of  Mr. 
Winkley's  gift,  this  entire  amount  has 
been  contributed  by  the  congregation. 
The  property  is  now  entirely  free  from 
debt,  and  by  virtue  of  conditions  attached 
to  some  gifts  made  toward  the  payment 
of  the  last  indebtedness,  no  incuinbrance 
of  any  kind  can  be  placed  upon  it  in  the 
future. 

MID-WEEK  MEETING. 

For  several  months  the  prayer  meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  house  of  Deacon 
Smith  on  Franklin  Street.  After  that 
and  during  a  portion  of  the  year  1865 
they  were  held  in  the  second  story  of  a 
building  on  the  north  side  of  Chestnut 
Street  above  tenth,  where  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  then  had  its  headquarters.  In  the 
meetings  held  in  Deacon  Smith's  parlors 
there  was  a  freedom  and  a  sociability 
that  are  missed  in  meetings  held  in  a 
hall  or  a  church.  We  seemed  to  come 
very  near  each  other,  and  very  near  to 
our  Saviour.  The  recollection  of  these 
seasons  of  prayer  and  Christian  fellow- 
ship is  doubtless  still  fresh  in  the  minds 
of  some,  who  are^  now  present.  One 
such  season  comes  *to  mind  now,  with 
great  distinctness,  verifying  the  observa- 
tion sometimes  made,  that  religious  ser- 
vices on  stormy  days  are  unusually  en- 
joyable and  helpful.  The  evening  was  a 
stormy  one,  and  but  few  were  present, 
and  we  gathered  in  the  front  room  of 
the  second  story.  "  And  they  went  into 

13 


an  upper  room."  The  topic  for  the 
evening  was  the  "  Conversion  of  Child- 
ren." As  we  prayed  and  talked  together 
in  the  familiar  way,  so  natural  in  such  a 
place,  of  the  encouragements  to  labor  for 
the  young,  we  felt  the  reality  and  the 
preciousness  of  the  Saviour's  presence 
with  us  even  as  he  was  with  the  disciples 
when  they  were  assembled  in  that  upper 
room  in  Jerusalem.  Our  hearts  were 
warmed  and  lighted  and  we  went  many 
days  in  the  strength  of  the  meat  he  gave 
us  on  that  evening. 

FIRST  PASTOR. 

On  June  8,  1864  the  church,  having 
been  led  to  believe  that  he  would  be  like- 
ly to  accept  a  call,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
elected  the  Eev.  A.  L.  Stone,  D.  D.,  of 
Boston  as  the  pastor.  He,  however,  de- 
clined the  call.  On  September  13,  1864, 
Rev.  Edward  Hawes  was  elected  pastor, 
by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  congregation 
and  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Hawes  had  been  pastor  of  the 
church  in  AVaterville,  Me.,  for  about  six 
years.  During  parts  of  two  years  he  had 
labored  on  behalf  of  the  U.  S.  Christian 
Commission,  in  raising  funds  for  its 
treasury,  and  in  personal  service  among 
the  soldiers  at  various  points  in  the 
South.  The  call  of  the  church  was  ac- 
cepted, and  he  was  installed  with  the 
advice  of  a  council.  Tuesday,  October  25, 
1864.  The  sermon  was  delivered  by 
Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  D.  P.,  of  Boston. 
Others,  who  took  part  in  the  services, 
were  Rev.  W.  I.  Buddington,  D.  D.,  of 
Brooklyn  ;  Rev.  Milton  Badger,  D.  D., 
of  New  York  ;  Rev.  Daniel  March,  D.  D., 
and  Rev.  *F.  L.  Robbins,  and  Rev.  G.  W. 

14 


Smiley.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Hawes  was 
characterized  by  earnest  and  faithful 
labor,  and  by  a  wise  and  judicious  con- 
duct of  affairs.  He  remained  with  us 
for  nearly  nine  years  and  until  a  sub- 
stantial church  building  had  been  erect- 
ed, and  the  church  established  on  a 
secure  basis.  In  1873  Mr.  Hawes  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
"  North  "  church  in  New  Haven.  He  is 
now  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  Burlington,  Vermont. 

Rev.  Edward  Hawes,  D.  D.  is  the  son 
of  Rev.  Josiah  T.  Hawes,  and  was 
born  October  18,  1834,  at  Topsham,  Me. 
He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in 
1855  and  at  Bangor  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1 858.  He  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Water  ville.  Me.,  in  Oc- 
tober 1858. 

During  the  pastoral  interregnum  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  following 
clergymen ;  some  of  them  preaching 
several  times.  Addison  Ballard,  F.  W. 
Beecher,  C.  P.  Bush-,  H.  Q.  Butterfield, 
J.W.  Chickering,  Jr.,  J.  A.Crawford,  J.R. 
Danforth,  G.  S.  Dickerman,  L.  M.  Foster, 
W.  F.  Garrett,  Edward  Hawes,  J.  R. 
Herrick,  W.  J.  Holland,  W.  E.  Tjams, 
G.  W.  McLean,  Daniel  March,  J.  B.  Miles, 
H.  J.  Patrick,  Llewellyn  Pratt,  G.  L. 
Raymond,  W.  Q.  Scott,  C.  A.  Smith, 
Moses  Smith,  J.  R.  Thurston,  W.  M.  Wal- 
cott,  and  F.  H.  Williams. 

SECOND  PASTOR. 

On  May  27,  1874  Rev.  James  Romeyn 
Danforth  was  elected  pastor  of  the 
church.  Mr.  Danforth  is  the  son  of 
Edward  John  Danforth,  who  was  born 
in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  afterwards 

15 


engaged  in  bank-note  engraving  in  New 
York.  He  was  born  in  Jersey  City  on 
August  8.  1839,  and  graduated  at  Beloit 
College  in  1865,  and  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  in  Chicago  in  1868.  In  that 
year  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Woodstock,  111.  Entering, 
with  enthusiasm,  upon  his  duties  and 
being  obliged  to  be  man-of-all-work  and 
also  errand  boy,  his  health  after  a  short 
time  gave  way,  and  he  resigned  his 
charge  and  spent  a  year  in  traveling  in 
Europe,  and  the  East,  and  then  two 
years  in  study  in  Germany,  for  the  most 
part  at  the  University  of  Leipsic.  In 
1873  he  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  in  Newtonville,  Mass.  He  was 
installed  over  this  church  on  Thursday, 
June  18, 1874.  On  this  occasion  the  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rankin, 
D.  I).,  of  Washington,  now  president  of 
Howard  University.  At  this  service  a 
new  departure  was  taken.  Instead  of 
the  stereotyped  charge  to  the  pastor  and 
to  the  people  and  the  right-hand  of  fel- 
lowship by  pastors  of  neighboring 
churches  of  the  congregational  order,  rep- 
resentatives of  churches  of  different  de- 
nominations in  the  city  were  invited  to 
express  the  fellowship  of  their  respective 
congregations.  Rev  Geo.DanaBoardman, 
D.  D.,  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  Baptists. 
Rev.  R.  I).  Harper,  D.  D.,  voiced  the 
sympathy  of  the  Presbyterians  ;  and  Rev. 
R.  M.  Hatfield,  D.  I).,  extended  the 
greetings  of  the  Methodists. 

In  January  1888,  just  in  the  beginning 
of  the  series  of  meetings  conducted  by 
Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  Dr.  Danforth's  health 
gave  way ;  and  a  joint  committee  of  the 
Church  and  Society  was  chosen  to  provide 

16 


for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  On  his  re- 
signation in  January  1889  this  committee 
was  authorized  to  select  and  recommend 
to  the  church  a  suitable  person  for  per- 
manent pastor.  And  it  was  voted  as  the 
sense  of  the  church  that  the  pulpit  should 
not  be  open  for  the  hearing  of  candinates. 
During  the  years  1888  and  1889  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied  by  the  following  clergy- 
men ;  some  of  them  preaching  several 
Sundays  :  A.  W.  Bacon,  F.  T.  Bayley,  A. 
F.  Beard,  J.  H.  A.  Bomberger,  G.  M. 
Boynton,  L.  A.  Brastow,  J.  W.  Chap- 
man, L.  H.  Cobb,  C.  H.  Daniels,  J.  F. 
Dripps,  A.  F.  Dunnells,  E.  G.  Fullerton, 
Washington  Gladden,  Win.  Greenwood, 
W.  E.  Griffis,  W.  D.  Gulick,  B.  F.  Hamil- 
ton, Edward  Hawes,  G.  F.  Herrick,  T. 
A.  Hoyt,  Pleasant  Hunter,  T.  W.  Jones, 
Wm.  Kincaid,  W.  M.  Kincaid,  W.  E. 
Loucks,  Alex.  Mackenzie,  E.  H.  Mason, 
J.  K.  Mason,  J.  R.  Miller,  B.  Fay  Mills, 
T.  A.  Mills,  E.  D.  Morris,  J.  O.  Murray, 
H.  A.  Nelson,  W.  M.  Paden,  F.  L.  Pat- 
ton,  A.  T.  Pierson,  W.  G.  Puddefoot, 
Frank  Russell,  Norman  Seaver,  W,  A. 
Sinclair,  M.  E.  Strieby.  Josiah  Strong, 
Ruen  Thomas,  G.  W/Thomson,  W.  R. 
Taylor,  Charles  Van  Norden.  C.  H. 
Wheeler,  J.  T.  Wilds,  M.  H.  Williams 
and  J.  C.  Wilson.  Mrs.  Wm.  B.  Capron 
and  Miss  Carrie  W.  Hunt,  each  also  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  on  one  Sunday  morning. 

PRESENT  PASTOR. 

In  December,  1889,  Rev.  Charles  Her- 
bert Richards,  D.  D.,  of  Madison,  Wis., 
was,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  com- 
mittee, unanimously  elected  pastor  of 
the  church  without  his  having  been 
heard,  or  seen  by  the  congregation. 

17 


After  making  a  personal  survey  of  the 
field,  he  accepted  the  call  and  entered 
on  the  work  here,  in  February,  1890.  He 
was  installed  on  the  15  of  April. 

Dr.  Eichards  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Cyrus  S.  Kichards,  who  wTas  for  many 
years  the  principal  of  "  Kiniball  Union 
Academy,"  in  Meriden,  X.  H.,  and  sub- 
sequently professor  in  Howard  Univer- 
sity. 

Dr.  Richards  was  born  in  Meriden  on 
March  18,  1839.  He  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  I860,  and  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  in  Andover  in  1865.  He  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Kokomo. 
Indiana,  July  16,  1866,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  installed  over  the  church  in 
Madison,  Wisconsin.  The  State  Uni- 
versity of  Wisconsin  is  located  at  that 
place,  and  the  teachers  and  students 
of  the  University  formed  an  important 
part  of  his  congregation. 

The  fact  that  he  maintained  his  hold 
on  such  a  congregation  with  undiminish- 
ed  influence  for  a  period  of  twenty-two 
years,  is  strong  proof  of  his  ability,  and 
of  the  efficiency  and  value  of  his  work. 

OUR  THREE  PASTORS. 

If  it  were  not  for  their  presence  with 
us  this  evening  it  would  be  pleasant  and 
every  way  suitable  to  say  a  few  words 
in  recognition  of  the  kind  providence, 
which  guided  us  to  the  choice  of  the 
three  pastois,  who  have  been  so  well 
qualified  for  the  work  to  be  done  here. 
The  position  of  our  church,  in  its  early 
years  was  in  several  respects  a  trying 
one.  Difficulties  and  dangers  were  to  be 
encountered,  and  without  wise  and  able 
leadership  the  enterprise  might  easily 

18 


have  miscarried.  We  were  warned  by 
friends  that  our  church,  by  reason  of  its 
freedom. might  become  a  cave  of  Adullam. 
That  we  have  been  piloted  •  through  the 
adverse  currents,  and  escaped  both  the 
Scylla  and  the  Charibdis,  is  due  under 
God,  to  the  fact  that  all  of  our  pastors 
have  been  wise  and  prudent,  as  well  as 
able  and  devoted  men.  We  can  ask  no 
greater  boon  in  this  regard  for  the 
future  than  that  those  who  may  succeed 
them  shall  display  a  like  prudence  and 
devotion. 

DEACONS. 

On  Friday  December  9,  1864,  Messrs. 
James  Smith,  Joseph  B.  Sheppard,  John 
Edmands  and  Joseph  R.  Gaut  were 
elected  Deacons  of  the  church  without 
any  limit  as  to  the  term  of  office.  On 
Sunday,  December  11,  they  were  set 
apart  to  that  office  by  public  religious 
service.  Of  these  Deacon  Edmands  is 
the  only  survivor.  At  the  annual  meet- 
ing in  1866  the  church  voted  to  elect  two 
additional  deacons  ;  and  in  pursuance 
of  this  action  John  H.  Southworth  and 
Dr.  James  F.  Stone  were  elected.  Mr. 
Southworth  however  declined  to  accept 
the  office. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  January, 
1873,  as  there  was  manifested  a  desire  to 
take  some  action  respecting  the  tenure  of 
office  of  the  diaconate  Deacons  Smith, 
Sheppard,  Edmands,  Gaut  and  Stone  ten- 
dered their  resignations  in  order  that  the 
church,  without  embarrassment,  might 
take  such  action  as  might  be  deemed 
best.  Their  resignations  were  accepted, 
and  it  was  then  decided  to  elect  six 
deacons  in  classes  of  two,  and  for  the 

19 


terms  of  three,  two  and  one  year  re- 
spectively :  and  James  Smith  and 
John  Edmands  were  elected  for  three 
years ;  Dr.  J.  F.  Stone  and  Joseph  B. 
Sheppard  for  two  years,  and  Charles 
Burnham  and  William  Campbell  for  one 
year.  On  account  of  impaired  health 
Deacon  Gaut  declined  a  re-election. 
In  addition  to  those  before  mentioned 
the  following  persons  have  held  the 
office  of  Deacon :  Samuel  A.  Johnson. 
Joseph  W.  Martin.  Samuel  A.  Waters, 
Xelson  F.  Evans,  Theodore  Bliss,  Barton 
F.  Blake,  Frank  P.  Pendletou,  Thomas 
F,  Hammond,  Leonard  O.  Smith,  Edward 
P.  Hall,  William  W.  Woodruff,  Sr., 
William  H.  Wanamaker.  Sr.,  W.  Bugbee 
Smith  and  Daniel  A.  Waters.  Of  those 
who  have  held  the  office  :  Messrs.  James 
Smith,  Sheppard,  Gaut. Burnham. Martin, 
and  S.  A.  Waters  have  deceased. 

In  1892  the  church  voted  to  increase 
the  number  of  deacons  to  nine,  to  be 
elected  in  classes  of  three,  and  for  the 
term  of  three  years.  At  the  same  time 
it  was  ordered  that  in  the  future  the 
Standing  Committee  should  consist  of 
the  Pastor,  the  Deacons  and  the  Dea- 
conesses. 

DEACONESSES. 

In  1892  the  church  provided  in  its 
rules  for  the  election  of  four  deaconesses  ; 
and  those  first  elected  wrere  Mrs.  Ellen 
M.  Edmands,  Mrs.  Ellen  E.  Dexter,  Mrs. 
Isabella  M.  Stone  and  Miss  Mary  J. 
Jeniiison.  B}T  a  change  made  last  year 
the  number  of  deaconesses  was  increased 
to  six,  to  be  elected  in  classes  of  two  for 
the  term  of  three  years.  Those  now 
holding  the  office  are  Mrs.  Ellen  E.  Dex- 

20 


ter,  Mrs.  Clarinda  K.  Edmands,  Mrs. 
Emma  L.  Plumb,  Mrs.  Kate  R.  Smith, 
Mrs.  Isabella  M.  Stone,  and  Mrs.  Isabella 
Wanamaker.  Of  those  who  have  held 
the  office  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Edmands  has 
deceased. 

ORDINATION. 

In  1869,  Mr.  George  A.  Hood,  who  was 
under  appointment  by  the  American 
Missionary  Association  to  labor  among 
the  colored  people  of  the  South,  requested 
this  church  to  call  a  council  for  his  ordi- 
nation. In  accordance  with  his  request 
the  church  on  September  22  voted  to 
call  a  council ;  and  it  met  here  on  the  30 
of  September.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  M.  E.  Strieby,  D.  D.,  and  other 
parts  were  taken  by  Rev.  Edward  Hawes 
and  Rev.  George  Hood,  the  father  of  the 
candidate.  Mr.  Hood  is  now  one  of  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Congregational  Church 
Building  Society. 

MEMORIAL  NOTICES. 

During  these  past  years  a  large  num- 
ber of  our  associates  and  fellow-workers 
have  ceased  from  their  labors  and  have 
passed  on  into  the  home  above.  It  would 
be  pleasant  and  very  suitable  for  us,  did 
time  allow,  to  recall  their  names  here, 
and  to  make  mention  of  their  work  and 
their  worth.  We  can  however  make 
individual  mention  of  only  a  few  of  them. 
Three  of  the  four,  who  were  first  elected 
to  the  office  of  Deacon — Jas.  Smith,  J.  B. 
Sheppard,  and  Jos.  R.  Gaut— have  pass- 
ed from  us.  Of  those  who  have  subse- 
quently held  the  office — Chas.  Burnhani, 
Joseph  W.  Martin,  and  Samuel  A. 
Waters — have  finished  their  work.  We 

21 


remember,  with  gratitude,  the  stalwart 
faith  and  devoted  lives  of  these  brethren. 

DEACON  SMITH. 

It  is  every  way  proper  that  we  pay  a 
special  tribute  to  the  worth  and  the  ser- 
vices of  Deacon  Smith.  He  was  born  on 
a  farm  in  Rutland,  Mass.,  January  20, 
1788,  and  removed  to  Leicester,  Mass,  in 
1810,  with  all  his  worldly  goods  tied  in 
a  pocket-handkerchief,  having  as  his 
only  capital  a  clear  head,  an  energetic 
hand,  a  true  and  generous  heart,  and  a 
determined  will.  With  his  wife  he  made 
confession  of  his  faith  in  Christ,  and 
united  with  the  church  in  Leicester  in 
1827.  In  1836  he  came  to  this  city,  and 
until  near  the  close  of  his  life  he  con- 
ducted a  successful  and  lucrative  busi- 
ness. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  Congrega- 
tional church  was  formed,  which  did  so 
large  and  blessed  a  work,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Jno.  Todd,  D.  D.  He 
entered  into  that  work  with  intense 
earnestness,  and  when  that  church  suc- 
cumbed to  the  adverse  influences  that 
were  working  against  it,  he  was  most 
deeply  grieved. 

When,  in  the  course  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, the  way  seemed  to  be  prepared 
for  another  attempt  to  plant  Congrega- 
tionalism in  this  city,  he  engaged  heart- 
ily and  joyfully  in  the  work.  He  gave 
thought,  labor  and  prayer  and  money  to 
the  undertaking.  It  does  not  detract 
from  the  credit  due  to  others  to  say  that 
he  was  the  father  of  the  church ;  that 
without  the  aid  he  gave  the  church 
could  not  have  been  established. 

By  earnest  effort  and  honorable  deal- 

22 


ing  and  the  smile  of  heaven  he  had,  at 
the  time  this  enterprise  was  undertaken, 
acquired  a  fortune  much  beyond  what 
was  demanded  for  his  simple  tastes  and 
habits,  and  he  was  ready  as  God's  stew- 
ard to  use  a  good  portion  of  it  for  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  Kingdom. 

He  was  to  a  large  extent  the  executor 
of  his  own  estate.  As  he  acquired  wealth, 
he  disbursed  freely  and  wisely.  Though 
not  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  he  helped 
forward  into  the  ministry  many  young 
men,  who  otherwise  would  not  have  been 
able  to  enter  the  profession,  and  the 
students  in  several  colleges  and  semi- 
naries, in  the  present  and  future  genera- 
tions, will  have  a  better  equipment  for 
their  work,  in  consequence  of  his  gifts. 

His  contributions  toward  the  erection 
of  this  church  must  have  exceeded 
$40,000.  By  his  will  and  in  special  gifts 
during  his  lifetime  he  contributed  more 
than  $75,000  to  various  educational  and 
missionary  objects,  in  addition  to  the 
sums  which  annually  passed  through  the 
treasury  of  this  church. 

DR.  WILLIAM  GOODELL. 

Some  of  the  most  precious  memories 
of  the  early  time  of  the  church  cluster 
about  the  presence  with  us  of  Eev.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Goodell.  After  their  more  than 
forty  years  of  fruitful  and  blessed  mission 
work  in  the  Turkish  Empire,  they  found 
their  physical  strength  inadequate  to  a 
continuance  of  missionary  labor,  and 
they  came  to  make  their  home  with  their 
son  in  this  city.  The}7  were  received 
into  this  church,  January  14, 1866.  From 
the  very  first  his  presence  with  us  was  a 
benediction.  He  conducted  a  class  for 

23 


Bible  study  in  the  Sunday  School,  and 
made  his  influence  strongly  felt  in  the 
prayer-meeting. 

It  was  the  general  opinion  that  we  had 
never  seen  a  happier  Christian  than  he 
was.  Religion  seemed  very  real  to  him 
and  heaven  seemed  very  near.  We  re- 
call an  illustration  of  this  at  one  of  our 
prayer-meetings.  The  hymn  was  sung, 
"  There  is  a  happy  land,  far,  far  away." 
He  rose,  and  said,  with  animation, 
"  don't  sing  it  that  way,  Heaven  is  not 
far  away."  He  broke  out  in  a  clear 
strong  voice  and  sang,  "  There  is  a  happy 
land,  Not  far  away."  His  whole  life 
showed  that  he  was  habitually  living 
very  near  his  future  home.  His  stay 
with  us  was  all  too  short ;  and  before  we 
fully  realized  his  worth  to  us,  he  passed 
through  the  thin  veil,  that  hid  from  his 
eyes  the  heaven  that  had  been  so  real  to 
him.  We  saw  it,  and  we  cried,  "  My 
Father,  My  Father,  the  chariot  of  Israel 
and  the  horsemen  thereof." 

MISSIONARIES. 

It  is  pleasant  on  this  occasion  to  re- 
member that  a  number  of  persons  who 
have  been  trained  here  have  gone  forth 
to  do  work  for  the  Master  as  missionaries, 
as  ministers,  arid  as  wives  of  ministers. 

Miss  Elsie  M.  Garretson  united  with 
this  church  in  1875,  and  after  making 
herself  useful  here  for  five  years,  she  re- 
ceived an  appointment  from  the  ' ;  Amer- 
ican Board,"  and  went  as  a  missionary 
to  China  in  1880.  She  was  stationed  for 
some  years  at  Kalgan,  and  in  1886  was 
transferred  to  the  Fouchou  mission. 

Miss  Ada  Haven,  a  sister  of  the  wife 
of  our  second  pastor,  though  not  actually 

•24 


a  member  of  this  church,  was  for  several 
years  an  efficient  worker  with  us.  In 
1879  she  was  appointed  a  missionary  by 
the  "  American  Board,"  and  has  been 
stationed  during  all  this  time  at  Pekin, 
China.  In  an  unusually  short  time  she 
acquired  a  command  of  the  language, 
and  has  had  large  and  blessed  success  in 
her  chosen  work. 

Miss  Susan  La  Flesche,  who  is  of  the 
Sioux  tribe  of  Indians,  came  to  us  from 
Hampton  Institute  in  1887,  and  after 
several  years  work  and  study  here  at  the 
Woman's  Medical  College,  she  returned 
to  the  West  to  engage  in  labor  for  her 
own  people.  She  received  an  appoint- 
ment from  the  U.  S.  Government  as 
physician  and  teacher  at  the  Omaha 
Agency.  Subsequently  she  was  appointed 
by  the  Woman's  National  Indian  Asso- 
ciative Physician  to  the  Omaha  tribe. 
Her  zeal  and  devotion  have  outrun  her 
strength,  and  she  has  been  forced  to  sus- 
pend her  work. 

MINISTEES. 

Mr.  John  I  Forbes  united  with  the 
church  in  1865,  and  subsequently  became 
a  clergyman  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church. 

Jno.  C.  Wilson  came  to  us  in  1880 
from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  after  a  course  of  study  in  this  city, 
in  Amherst  and  New  Haven,  he  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  First  Church  in 
Stonington,  Conn,,  and  is  now  settled  in 
Meriden,  Conn. 

Henry  M.  Bowden  was  trained  in  our 
Sunday  School  and  united  with  the 
church  in  1880,  and  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Putney,  Vermont,  in 

25 


1886.  He  is  now  pastor  of  a  flourishing 
church  in  Braddock,  Pa. 

James  R.  Danforth,  Jr.,  united  with 
this  church  in  1881,  and  studied  at  Am- 
herst,  and  at  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  New  Haven.  After  another  year's 
study  in  Germany,  he  was  ordained  pas- 
tor of  the  church  in  Mystic,  Conn,  on 
October  25, 1892,  where  he  is  still  preach- 
ing. 

William  Gallagher  came  into  the 
church  in  1870.  After  a  short  residence 
here  he  pursued  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago,  and 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Bloomington,  111.  in  1874.  After  several 
years  of  pastoral  service  there,  and  in 
Sycamore,  111.,  he  became  a  teacher  in 
the  Boston  Latin  school,  and  subsequent- 
ly was  elected  principal  of  the  Academy 
at  East  Hampton,  Mass.,  where  he  is 
still  doing  most  excellent  work. 

WIVES  OF  CLERGYMEN. 

Several  of  the  members  of  our  church 
have  been  called  to  occupy  the  position 
of  clergyman's  wife. 

Miss  Maria  Greene,  who  came  to  us  in 
1866,  was  married  June  25.  1868  to  Rev. 
T.  O.  Douglass,  who  has  been  a  pastor 
and  missionary  superintendent,  at  the 
West,  and  is  now  resident  in  Grinnell, 
Iowa. 

Miss  Emily  S.  Pile,  who  joined  the 
church  in  1867,  was  married  to  Rev. 
Edward  T.  Bartlett,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  a  distinguished  orien- 
tal scholar,  and  now  a  professor  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  in  West  Philadel- 
phia. 

Miss  Jennie  A.  Campbell,  a  daughter 

26 


of  Deacon  Wm.  Campbell,  united  with 
the  church  in  1872.  After  graduating 
with  the  highest  honors  in  her  class,  at 
the  Normal  School  of  this  city,  she  was 
married  to  Kev.  Charles  Cutting,  a  pastor 
in  Connecticut  and  now  residing  in 
Whitneyville,  Conn. 

Miss  Mary  I.  Campbell  united  with 
the  church  in  1872,  She  is  also  a 
daughter  of  Deacon  Wm.  Campbell,  and 
like  her  sister  graduated  with  highest 
honors  in  her  class  at  the  Normal  School. 
On  July  7,  1884,  she  was  married  to  Rev. 
H.  M.  Bowden,  of  this  church,  who  is 
now  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  Braddock,  Pa. 

WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY  SOCIETIES. 

The  women  of  our  church  have  not 
been  wholly  unmindful  of  the  opportuni- 
ties for  work  that  have  opened  to  them 
in  these  later  days. 

The  "  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,"  of  our  church,  was  organized  in 
1870,  as  the  first  branch  of  the  Woman's 
Board  at  Boston.  After  a  time,  by  rea- 
son of  change  in  offices,  it  seemed  expe- 
dient to  remove  the  headquarters  to 
Newark,  N.  J. ;  and  thus  this  society  be- 
came an  auxiliary  to  the  Philadelphia 
branch.  The  membership  has  ranged 
from  40  to  60,  though  not  all  of  these 
have  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
work.  There  have  been  times  when  the 
small  attendance  at  the  meetings  has 
been  very  discouraging,  but  within  a  few 
years  there  has  been  an  improvement. 

The  amount  of  money  raised,  during 
the  existence  of  the  society,  has  been 
nearly  $5,000,  which  has  been  appro- 
priated through  the  treasury  of  the 

27 


Philadelphia  branch,  to  the  support  of 
the  Girl's  School  at  Aintab,  the  missions 
in  Mexico,  and  Japan,  and,  incidentally, 
in  other  -directions.  During  the  three 
years  of  Mrs.  Karmarkar's  study  in  the 
"  Woman's  Medical  College,"  in  this  city, 
the  ladies  of  this  church  paid  $4.00  per 
week  for  her  support.  She  has  returned 
to  India  to  minister  to  the  physical  and 
spiritual  needs  of  her  people. 

The  "  Woman's  Home  Missionary 
Society"  was  organized  in  January,  1889. 
In  the  five  years  of  its  existence  more 
than  81,000  has  been  raised,  and  sent  to 
the  different  societies  of  our  denomination. 
Shipments  of  clothing  and  books  have 
been  forwarded  each  year  to  families  of 
Home  Missionaries,  and  to  schools  in 
the  South  among  the  colored  people,  and 
highlanders  of  Tennessee.  More  than 
fifty  ladies  in  the  congregation  have 
mite-boxes  and  contribute  five  cents  per 
week,  which  goes  to  the  salary  fund  of 
the  "Congregational  Home  Missionary 
Society." 

Under  the  name  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  and  other  previous  names,  the 
women  have  labored  with  us  in  the 
gospel  most  effectively.  There  have  been 
times  in  our  history  when  the  men  seem- 
ed to  have  exhausted  their  resources  and 
when  the  work  would  have  come  to  a 
standstill,  but  for  the  ready  wit  and  the 
unflagging  energy  of  the  women.  In  many 
ways  they  have  rendered  valuable  aid  in 
the  accomplishment  of  objects  that  were 
essential  to  the  best  spiritual  work  of  the 
church. 

FINANCIAL. 

Although  ours  cannot  be  called,  in  any 
proper  sense,  a  wealthy  church,  it  pro- 

28 


bably  compares  favorably  with  others,  in 
the  amount  of  money  contributed  for  home 
work,  and  for  proper  missionary  pur- 
poses. The  amount  raised  for  our  church 
building  is  about  $140,000.  For  the 
maintenance  of  our  own  home  work, 
there  has  been  contributed  $142,000. 

For  the  several  branches  of  missionary 
wrork,  in  which  our  church  has  been  en- 
gaged, at  home  or  abroad,  has  been  con- 
tributed $100,000. 

REVIVALS. 

The  religious  life  of  the  church  has 
been  healthful  and  vigorous.  There  has 
been  on  the  part  of  many  of  the  mem- 
bers an  earnest  desire  and  purpose  to 
make  the  church  a  powerful  agency,  for 
the  building  up  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ, 
in  this  city,  and  throughout  the  world. 

During  these  years  there  has  been  no 
spasmodic  excitement;  nothing  that  in 
the  objectionable  sense,  in  which  the 
word  is  sometimes  used,  that  can  be  call- 
ed a  revival.  But,  in  more  than  one 
season  there  has  been,  on  the  part  of 
many,  an  unwonted  tenderness  olf  feel- 
ing, a  quickened  desire  for  the  conver- 
sion of  souls,  an  earnest  spirit  of  prayer, 
and  a  readiness  to  engage  in  direct 
spiritual  work.  We  recall  one  such  sea- 
son of  spiritual  refreshment  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  and  another  in  the  spring  fol- 
lowing. On  both  of  these  occasions  the 
church  received  accessions  of  those  who 
proved  to  be  efficient  workers.  When 
Mr.  Moody  was  here  in  1876,  members 
of  our  church  were  faithful  and  efficient 
coadjutors  in  his  work,  and  our  member- 
ship was  considerably  increased  at  that 
time.  Among  those,  who  for  the  first 

29 


time  came  into  the  church  was  the 
brother,  who  for  the  past  fourteen  years 
has  been  our  earnest  and  useful  Sunday 
School  Superintendent.  The  year  1883 
was  also  a  year  of  the  manifested  pres- 
ence of  the  Holy  Spirit.  At  the  March 
communion  in  that  year,  twenty  persons 
made  confession  of  their  faith  in  Christ. 
It  may  properly  be  said  that  the  year 
1887  was  one  of  preparation.  Dr.  Ban- 
forth  seemed  to  feel  the  burden  of  souls 
upon  him,  in  an  unusual  degree ;  and  a 
number  of  the  members  entered  heartily 
with  him  upon  Christian  work.  Earnest 
conferences  were  held  during  the  year, 
and  the  pastors  of  neighboring  churches 
wrere  consulted  with  reference  to  some 
co-operation  in  Evangelistic  work.  This 
suggestion  was  received  with  great  favor, 
and  the  result  was  an  arrangement  by 
which  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  was  to  conduct 
a  series  of  meetings  here  in  January, 
1888,  with  the  co-operation  of  ten 
churches  in  this  neighborhood.  The 
churches  associated  in  this  work,  besides 
our  own,  were  the  "  Fifth  Baptist." 
"  Christ  Reformed,"  u  St.  Matthews 
Lutheran,"  "  St.  Matthias  Episcopal," 
"  Spring  Garden  Methodist,"  "  Trinity 
Methodist,"  "  Alexander  Presbyterian," 
"  North  Broad  Street  Presbyterian,"  and 
"  Olivet  Presbyterian."  It  was  agreed 
that  our  church  should  be  in  some  sense 
the  centre  of  the  work ;  all  the  week- 
day evening  meetings  being  held  here. 
As  it  was  chiefly  on  Dr.  Danforth's  sug- 
gestion and  advice,  that  Mr.  Mills  was 
t  invited  here,  very  naturally  the  heaviest 
part  of  the  burden  of  preparation  for  the 
meetings,  was  laid  upon  his  shoulders. 
This  was  very  kindly  meant,  but  the 


result  was  most  disastrous.  Just  at  the 
beginning  of  Mr.  Mill's  work  here,  Dr. 
Danforth's  health  gave  way,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  lie  by,  and  see  the  sheaves 
gathered  in  by  other  hands.  For 
abundant  sheaves  were  gathered,  and  all 
the  churches  were  richly  blessed.  More 
than  seventy  persons  were  received  into 
our  church,  on  confession  of  faith,  in 
that  year.  One  of  the  fruits  of  that  work 
of  grace  was  the  cementing  together  of 
these  ten  churches,  in  such  a  blessed  fel- 
lowship as  they  had  never  before  known. 
The  informal  organization  then  made, 
has  been  kept  up  and  a  number  of  de- 
lightful and  spiritually  helpful  meetings 
have  been  held,  and  we  hope  to-morrow 
evening,  to  have  another  manifestation 
that  the  spirit  of  Christian  unity,  among 
us  at  least,  is  still  alive  and  active. 

In  this  connection  a  word  should  be 
said  about  the  work  of  individual  mem- 
bers of  our  church  outside  of  our  parish, 
and  outside  of  our  Congregational  fold. 
One  of  our  members,  now  an  efficient  and 
honored  deaconess  in  the  church,  has 
labored  many  years  in  charge  of  one  of 
the  departments  of  a  Sunday  School  for 
colored  people ;  and  several  other  mem- 
bers have  been  helpers  in  the  same  school. 

One  of  our  number,  now  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  church,  has  for  a  long 
time  been  the  secretary  and  an  active 
worker  in  the  Sunday  Breakfast  Associa- 
tions. 

Our  church  has  furnished  a  president 
and  several  directors  of  both  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  and  the  Woman's  Christian  Asso- 
ciations. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  the  Boy's  Parlor 

31 


on  Broad  Street  have  engaged  the  active 
services  of  several  of  our  members. 

One  of  our  number  has  for  several 
years  been  one  of  the  most  acceptable 
preachers  at  Girard  College  and  at  the 
House  of  Refuge.  Two  small  books  which 
he  has  prepared  in  the  line  of  his  work 
as  a  teacher  of  the  deaf,  may  safely  be 
recommended  as  valuable  aids  in  the  sim- 
ple presentation  of  religious  truth  and 
developing  the  meaning  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer.  Two  of  our  members  are  doing 
the  chief  editorial  work  of  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union,  and  several  others 
have  been  members  of  the  Board  of 
Directors. 

CONCLUSION. 

Standing  now  upon  the  threshold  of 
the  second  tri-decade  of  our  history,  and 
remembering  that  we  are  not  here  pri- 
marily as  Congregationalists.  but  as 
soldiers  of  one  great  army,  enlisted  under 
the  banner  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
banded  together  for  the  executing  of  his 
great  command  to  evangelize  the  nations, 
looking  over  the  failures  and  successes 
of  the  past,  and  trying  to  comprehend 
the  problems  that  are  set  before  us  to 
solve,  trying  to  understand  just  what 
the  Great  Head  of  the  church  wants  us 
to  do,  for  the  spiritual  and  physical  well- 
being  of  the  un-churched  multitudes 
about  us,  in  this  city,  and  in  the  wide 
world,  if  we  gird  ourselves  afresh  in  the 
spirit  of  the  Master,  and  so  dedicate  our- 
selves to  the  work  before  us,  that  those 
who  have  toiled  and  suffered  here,  shall 
not  have  toiled  and  suffered  in  vain,  it 
will  not  be  without  profit  that  we  hold 
these  memorial  services. 


32 


PKESS  OF 

EDW.  E.  HAYES  &  CO., 
147  N.  12TH  STBBET, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


